Wrestlers return from tourney empty handed

Two Moffat County state-champion wrestlers returned from the Senior National Tournament empty handed.

Seniors Mark Hastings and Kyle Kostur traveled to the April 5 and 6 tournament in Cleveland fresh off top showings at the Denver-based Rocky Mountain National Tournament.

The outcome in Cleveland wasn't as favorable as it was in Denver as both wrestlers were knocked out of the tournament by their second match. In Denver Kostur won the tournament while Hastings placed fifth.

"It was a real step up from the Rocky Mountain," Kostur said. "The competition was pretty close to the kind I've seen at other nationals, like the one in Fargo (N.D.)."

Both wrestlers lost their two matches by decision in the nation wide tournament.

Senior Nationals is an exclusive tournament inviting only the cream of each state's wrestlers. To be invited to the tournament a wrestler must be a state champion or a runner up. Hastings was the Class 4A 125-pound state champion for the Bulldogs and Kostur was the 130-pound champion.

Sickness is what held Hastings back at Cleveland as the wrestler was fighting a sinus infection that was aggravated even more from the plane trip. Hastings had to see a doctor when he reached Ohio and never fully recovered during the tournament.

While Kostur struggled at the tournament he can foresee attending more this summer, if he can find the time to practice and attend.

"I might try and go to Fargo at the end of July if I can work it in," he said.